Centers for Disease Control says it considers a person is fully vaccinated within two weeks after a 2-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine such as Pfizer-Biontech. Or more than two weeks after a single dose of the Janssen COVID-19 version. It says it has not established the need for COVID booster doses yet. Money Control could not contain its curiosity when it wondered, will we need COVID boosters, if so when?
A Watchful U.S. Wonders How Long Their Protection Lasts
Money Control believes the question is upward on many minds, as ‘the nation edges closer to … a 70% vaccination rate. It says U.S. National Institutes of Health has begun trialing people fully vaccinated with any authorized vaccine.
That’s because it wants to determine whether a booster of the Moderna shot will increase their antibodies. And therefore prolong their protection against infection with the COVID virus.
‘We’re in uncharted waters here in terms of boosters,’ Dr. Edward Belongia told Money Control on June 7, 2021. He is a physician, and public health researcher at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Wisconsin.
Only Time Will Tell Whether We Need COVID Boosters
It’s an open question in the choppy, uncharted water we are navigating through. Considered medical opinion estimates the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will last at least a year. However, nobody knows how long ‘at least’ is.
You see, our immune system responds differently to different viruses. We need influenza vaccine each year, but two measles shots, or a measles infection, lasts a lifetime. Moreover, a virus can develop new variants as is the case with the Influenza and COVID-19 ones.
We will have to wait patiently for experience to tell whether we need COVID boosters, or not. This appears to be the policy Centers for Disease Control is following. Research underway suggests a slow rate of decline leading to longer immunity. The best strategy is having the vaccine, and taking care of ourselves until we know.
Related
Increased Threat from Delta India Variant in UK
What We Know About Delta India COVID-19
Preview Image: Three Approaches to Vaccines
